Vibration-resistant contact structure for coaxial switch

ABSTRACT

A vibration-resistant contact structure including a movable contact for interconnecting two fixed contacts. The movable contact includes a rigid blade and a flexible blade. The flexible blade engages the fixed contacts when the movable contact is urged into partially closed connection. When fully closed, the flexible blade is deflected substantially flush up against the rigid blade. During vibration, the movable contact need not remain absolutely motionless but can move within the range established between the partially closed and fully closed positions and continuity is retained. In one embodiment, the flexible blade is secured to the rigid blade at a point between its ends. In another, the flexible blade is attached to one of the fixed contacts, and in still another the flexible blade is slidably mounted on the contact actuator. Use of contact structures of this type is illustrated in a coaxial switch including provision for make-before-break operation.



1. A vibration-resistant contact structure comprising: a. first and second fixed contacts; b. a movable contact for selectively engaging at least one of said first and second fixed contacts, said movable contact including an elongated rigid blade of electrically conductive material and an elongated flexible blade of electrically conductive material; c. means for mounting said flexible blade with the ends thereof biased out of engagement with the ends of said rigid blade; and, d. actuating means for moving said rigid blade so as to resiliently urge at least one of the ends of said flexible blade into selective direct physical and electrical contact with said fixed contacts.
 2. The vibration-resistant contact structure recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises means for securing said flexible blade to said rigid blade only at a point between the ends thereof.
 3. The vibration-resistant contact structure recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises means for slidably mounting said flexible blaDe on an extension of said actuator between said rigid blade and said fixed contacts.
 4. The vibration-resistant contact structure recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises means for securing one of the ends of said flexible blades to one of said fixed contacts.
 5. The vibration-resistant contact structure recited in claim 1 wherein said rigid blade is substantially straight and said flexible blade is substantially arcuate.
 6. A vibration-resistant contact structure comprising: a. first and second fixed contacts; and b. a movable contact for engaging said first and second fixed contacts, said movable contact including an elongated rigid blade of electrically conductive material and an elongated flexible blade of electrically conductive material, said flexible blade being secured to said rigid blade at a point between the ends of said rigid and flexible blades, said flexible blade being formed so that when joined the ends of said blades are normally separated by a predetermined distance, the ends of said flexible blade making direct contact with said fixed contacts on engagement and being deformed by such contact toward said rigid blade.
 7. The contact structure recited in claim 6 wherein said rigid blade is substantially straight and said flexible blade is substantially arcuate.
 8. A vibration-resistant coaxial switch comprising: a. coaxial input and output connectors, each having an inner conductor and an outer conductor; b. means for electrically interconnecting said outer conductors of said coaxial connectors; c. a movable contact including an elongated rigid blade of electrically conductive material and an elongated flexible blade of electrically conductive material, said flexible blade being secured to said rigid blade at a point between the ends thereof, said flexible blade being formed so that when joined the ends of said blades are separated by a predetermined distance; and, d. actuating means secured to said movable contact for reciprocally moving said movable contact so as to urge said flexible blade into direct physical and electrical connection with said inner conductors of said coaxial connectors.
 9. A vibration-resistant coaxial switch comprising: a. a housing including sidewalls and a bottom plate; b. first and second input coaxial connectors mounted in said bottom plate, each having an inner conductor and an outer conductor; c. an output coaxial connector mounted in said bottom plate and having an inner conductor and an outer conductor; d. first and second movable contacts each including an elongated rigid blade of electrically conductive material and an elongated flexible blade of electrically conductive material, said flexible blade being secured to said rigid blade at a point between the ends of said rigid and flexible blades, said flexible blade being formed so that when joined the ends of said blades are separated by a predetermined distance; e. first and second actuating means secured to said first and second movable contacts; and, f. means for reciprocally moving said actuators to urge the flexible blade of said first movable contact into direct physical and electrical engagement with said inner conductors of said first input connector and said output connector and to urge the flexible blade of said second movable contact into direct physical and electrical engagement with said inner conductors of said second input connector and said output connector.
 10. The vibration-resistant coaxial switch recited in claim 9 wherein said means for reciprocally moving said actuators comprises a rocker arm having said actuators pivotally mounted on said rocker arm.
 11. The vibration-resistant coaxial switch recited in claim 9 wherein said first actuating means urges said first movable contact into engagement with said inner conductors of said first input connector and said output connector before said second actuating means disengages said second movable contact from said inner conductors of said second input connector and said output connector. 